I'm a helmet camera using cycle commuter in Glasgow (Torrance). I love it! It's fun, it keeps me fit, it's quicker than driving the car, and it benefits the environment.
The VAST majority of my commutes are fun and incident free. Sometimes though things happen that endanger me and others. So I film my commute and post it on YouTube.
This is my story...

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Friday, 30 September 2011

Cycle Video Day

There are lots and lots of Helmet Camera Cyclists on the streets today. Some great and good (like me of course....), some I admire, some I'm not so sure about. Here is the list of those who are currently posting, or have posted YouTube videos.

There really is a large number in the UK and we are quite widely spread geographically. As a group I think we are having an impact and a number of us have made it into the news at the local and national level. However, every piece I have ever seen has always suggested that we are few, and are possibly just a fringe element (perhaps we are!!).

This got me thinking.....oh, oh, here we go..... What could we do to help publicise that we are a growing force on the roads? What could we do that would capture peoples imagination, whilst at the same time get the message out that we are all road users and we all deserve respect?

And then the clouds parted, the sun shone and angels started singing.....ok, perhaps that is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I did have an idea, which is always worth celebrating!

Why not bring all of the helmet cam users together in a Day in the Life type project?

What if for one day, one specified day, we all captured and uploaded 10 minutes of our cycle commute. The particular 10 minutes would be up to the discretion of each cyclist, it could be an incident, an enjoyable section of the commute, a glorious sunrise, a bit of commuter racing.... anything that captured nationwide what cyclists were doing across the country on that day. Then all of the videos we collected and linked to from one location, each with a short 25 word description of what the video depicts.

I'm not even sure what it would consist of in the end, and what the final story would be, but I'm sure it would be a fascinating insight into cycle commuting and could serve as an educational and campaigning tool.

So what do you think? Are you ready to film a day in the life of your cycle commuting?

May I be so bold to select a date? How about Monday the 10th October 2011......

NOTE: Change of date. Now 10th October. Otherwise, us in the north would be filming in the dark!

It's a smashing idea. If I'm commuting by bike by then (hopefully) I'll join in, otherwise I'll try to get out and film ten minutes of going to the shops or something.If I can't do either, for whatever reason, I'll get ten minutes of my bloody car commute as a contrast

Excellent plan. I briefly tried a helmet camera but sent it back when it turned out to be too ropey to resolve number plates, but have other cameras, a helmet, some strong adhesive tape and lots of velcro ties.

Excellent plan. I briefly tried a helmet camera but sent it back when it turned out to be too ropey to resolve number plates, but have other cameras, a helmet, some strong adhesive tape and lots of velcro ties.

would something like this one:http://youtu.be/zZYGe_iI6AMbe useful?It's just over 10mins (sped up 2x) and as the description says, it shows why I love cycling around London - I defy anyone to do that journey quicker on another form of transport :-)

Actually if it has to be filmed on the 10th I'm rather nicely working at a site which means I can take a scenic route home along the Thames Path and some canals in Surrey Quays - should be some other ideal material :-)